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Loyalzoo – who the heck is Loyalzoo?…well you would like to know wouldn’t you?

For a start, we’re a London-based business with a global footprint. We support independent retailers and small chains and eateries and all those places which are the basis of your local community. Loyalty is our business. Keeping high streets and communities thriving and buzzing is the brilliant outcome of our digital platform.

We’re definitely the most unique digital loyalty solution in the UK and our ambition is to be the number one choice for SMBs. This week we’re throwing open our doors and holding an investor meet & greet where we’ll be serving Loyalzoo cocktails and treats for our guests. Would you like to come along? You can sign up for the event here on Eventbrite.

You’ll be able to get to know the team behind the brand; Massimo Sirolla the Co-founder & CEO of Loyalzoo, who knowshis retail and loyalty businesswill be on hand along with Mark Ryan – Co-founder & non-executive director, Rhiannon Barnes – Growth & engagement manager, Andrew Campbell – Chief Technology Officer, and Iain Watt – Full stack developer. So if you’re interested in finding out about our typical customer, how we came to be or our plans for the future – someone will definitely be able to fill you in.

We also have major plans for the business which is why we’re raising a big £500,000 investment at the moment. A large part of this is through our third crowdfunding campaign which is now live on Seedrs and has started off with a bang. For more information, head to www.seedrs.com/loyalzoo3

If you’re an existing, new or potential investor, come along and meet the team to hear our story and our plans. We look forward to welcoming you.

A recent survey* done by AXA Business Insurance have found that more than 60% of Britain’s shoppers have lasting relationships with their local stores and that they are much less loyal when it comes to their supermarket shopping.

But what makes local shops stand out? One in four answered that they like knowing the shop owners and the staff by name. They also responded that they like being able to order ‘the ususal’ in their local shops. Not all business sectors are treated equally though – the sectors we report the highest level of loyalty to are hairdressers, newsagents and butchers. It comes as no surprise that we are loyal to our hairdressers and butchers – the products and the service they provide are largely based on trust. As a bonus, shoppers appreciate the benefits independent shops bring to an area; over 70% say they think local shops adds to the character of a place, and almost 1 in 5 say the are prettier on the high street than the chains.

Another factor in our seeming preference for local shops is the nostalgia tied to high streets as they used to be – with a varied selection of specialist shops. These days high streets have a higher level of sameness; the same shops are found on every high street across the country.

An unsurprising 88% say they are not loyal to the supermarkets; price and convenience is the driving factor when they decide where to shop. 1 in 4 say they would change if a different store opened nearer to where they live or work – indicating location is an important factor for customers when choosing where to shop.

Interestingly the list consists only of specialist shops – big supermarkets combining clothes, furniture and groceries are nowhere to be seen despite their ‘all-in-one solution’ and, often, car friendly locations. It is an interesting contrast to the picture often presented in media, where we tend to see a focus on consumers being disloyal and focused only on price, largely influenced by online shopping.

Online shopping may be convenient and easy – but British consumers still seem to put their loyalty with their local shops, appreciating familiarity and what these shops bring to the community.

It is no secret that Loyalzoo – our loyalty app for local shops – came about as a result of our own interests. We enjoy to shop local in our neighbourhood, and want to help these shops grow and compete against the big brands. The papers are always reporting that local businesses are closing, so shopping in them is vital to keep them, and our neighbourhoods, alive.

So what’s the problem with big brands? Well – nothing, really. Many of them offer a good range of decent quality products, their opening hours are convenient and there is usually parking on the premises. Many offer wifi in store, low prices and central locations.

So far so good. But one thing they lack is excitement and interest in themselves and their products. You will never get an employee in a global chain enthusiastically talking about where their latest product came from and why they decided to stock it. Or talk about how their latest flavour came about – as a result of their best friends’ idea and their uncle’s abundant apple-tree.

Local shops have their limitations, sure. Their opening hours aren’t always as long as we would have liked them to be, the parking may be limited. But the variety of products and the stories behind them makes it a far more interesting place than any chain shop will ever be. You can tell by talking to the staff and the atmosphere inside. If it’s a cafe – is it an in-out feel, or are people sitting down with a friend or two, chatting away and enjoying themselves? If it’s a food shop or bakery, are the people in the queue mostly huffing and puffing in stress, or are they waiting patiently? Maybe we are just very lucky – but our experience in local shops is predominantly a much more relaxed matter than that in the big shops.

We still use the big brands, of course we do. Sometimes the convenience is unbeatable. But every time, whilst we queue up in another seething line full of people cursing and oozing passive aggressiveness because it is rush hour and they are all hangry and angry at the cashier not working fast enough, we think we could have – should have – gone to thelocal instead. It would have been more expensive, taken longer and finding parking would have been a pain – but being in the shop would have made us relax and lower our shoulders.

Not every local shop is like this – but many are. And none of the big ones are. So we shop local when we can and we urge you to do the same.

https://www.loyalzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/Idyllic-local-shops-high-streets.jpg425960Loyalzoohttps://www.loyalzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/loyalzoo-logo-small.pngLoyalzoo2015-09-18 11:46:332015-09-17 19:52:03Why We Like to Shop Local

The number of pubs is decreasing at worrying rate in the UK – we wrote an article about it last summer (read it here) – and pub owners around these fair isles are doing their best to keep them going and growing attracting business. Most pubs live on their regulars; the after-works, the sports fans and their neighbours, who come in week after week.

But the stats don’t lie – even the regulars are decreasing in number. A simple measure to keep your regulars is providing value. It is likely that one reason for the decline in pub-visitors is the economic climate – buying alcohol to drink it at home is cheaper. You must show them that the value they get from visiting your pub exceeds the tangible penny-saving; you must make it clear that their visit matters to you. Isn’t that part of the reason we go to pubs, to meet people, to feel part of a group?

Loyalty cards have been around for a while – but the standard paper or plastic ones are often more hassle than they are worth for the staff. Customers love the idea of getting rewarded – it makes them feel appreciated and that they are saving money. Our app is designed to give merchants an easy solution to this conundrum. You can read more about it here. So how might a loyalty program work for a pub, selling both drinks and food? Traditional loyalty cards often give a stamp per drink – and that’s it. Many newer solutions are fare more flexible – Loyalzoo included – and allows you to rewards for spend instead, giving you more options and freedom with how you want to reward them. You could give 1 point per £1 spent, and set up the rewards as follows: 10 points – complimentary bar snack, 20 points free pint of Becks/small glass house wine, 50 points – half price house bottle of wine. If you don’t want to give alcohol as rewards you could offer discounts on food as the reward, or even gift cards with third parties e.g. Amazon – 50 points – £5 amazon voucher, or 150 points – £25 Amazon voucher.

If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to get in touch – find our contact information here. We love a chat!

https://www.loyalzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/pub_drinks.jpg528800Loyalzoohttps://www.loyalzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/loyalzoo-logo-small.pngLoyalzoo2015-09-04 10:28:332015-09-02 19:33:08How and Why to Use a Loyalty Program in a Pub

https://www.loyalzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/Friendly-local-restaurant.jpg532800Loyalzoohttps://www.loyalzoo.com/wp-content/uploads/loyalzoo-logo-small.pngLoyalzoo2015-05-22 11:37:232015-05-21 15:37:5113 Reasons You Should Shop Local